Help Identifying Tulwar Hilt

Speedracer77 · 26th May 2025, 08:15 PM

Hello all, As part of researching some historical stuff, I was wondering if some of the esteemed forum members on here could help me identify a region in India from where this type of floral decoration on a tulwar hilt would originate from?.Or if anyone has come across a similar hilt in the various arms books/ catalogue?. Thank you all in advance for your help.

Jim McDougall · 27th May 2025, 09:32 PM

Without resources at hand, very attractive example of what appears to Mughal court sword of N.India, but its hard to categorize regionally. The high relief baroque decoration with what seems a Udaipur (squared base)style langet, seems unusual.
The blade resembles Persian trade blades end of 18th c. with the channeling.
Mughals were quite fond of floral decoration, and need to look further into references.

Speedracer77 · 28th May 2025, 04:10 AM

Thank you for the feedback, yes it seems to be Mughal , most likely from a court , and the langet is unusual, on account of the Northern ones being pointy and not square. Maybe Delhi ? Or Lahore?

Jim McDougall · 28th May 2025, 02:17 PM

Delhi and Lahore most likely. Lahore had enameling on hilts more prevalent.
Example 1 is a Mughal tulwar with diaper pattern gold koftgari, note langet form.
#2 is a Rajput tulwar, regarded as Udaipur (Rajasthan) hilt form (Pant).
Note the squared langets which seem unique to these types.

As I say, it is hard to define geographically as the tulwar is a broadly familiar form exclusive to India,primarily in the north, with obvious exceptions.

The blade on this is most attractive and appears of Persian trade blade style of late 18th century into 19th, and with notable yelman which lent to Ottoman favor. While Persia was of course one of the most prevalent influences in Mughal courts, the Ottoman element was also present.

26th May 2025, 08:15 PM	#1
Speedracer77 Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 10	Help Identifying Tulwar Hilt Hello all, As part of researching some historical stuff, I was wondering if some of the esteemed forum members on here could help me identify a region in India from where this type of floral decoration on a tulwar hilt would originate from?.Or if anyone has come across a similar hilt in the various arms books/ catalogue?. Thank you all in advance for your help. Attached Images

28th May 2025, 02:17 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,670	Delhi and Lahore most likely. Lahore had enameling on hilts more prevalent. Example 1 is a Mughal tulwar with diaper pattern gold koftgari, note langet form. #2 is a Rajput tulwar, regarded as Udaipur (Rajasthan) hilt form (Pant). Note the squared langets which seem unique to these types. As I say, it is hard to define geographically as the tulwar is a broadly familiar form exclusive to India,primarily in the north, with obvious exceptions. The blade on this is most attractive and appears of Persian trade blade style of late 18th century into 19th, and with notable yelman which lent to Ottoman favor. While Persia was of course one of the most prevalent influences in Mughal courts, the Ottoman element was also present. Attached Images

27th May 2025, 09:32 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,670	Without resources at hand, very attractive example of what appears to Mughal court sword of N.India, but its hard to categorize regionally. The high relief baroque decoration with what seems a Udaipur (squared base)style langet, seems unusual. The blade resembles Persian trade blades end of 18th c. with the channeling. Mughals were quite fond of floral decoration, and need to look further into references.

28th May 2025, 04:10 AM	#3
Speedracer77 Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 10	Thank you for the feedback, yes it seems to be Mughal , most likely from a court , and the langet is unusual, on account of the Northern ones being pointy and not square. Maybe Delhi ? Or Lahore?